Works Ministry Carrying Out 99 Slope Repair Projects Costing RM77.3 Million - Nanta

JELEBU, Feb 4 (Bernama) -- The Works Ministry is implementing 99 slope repair projects nationwide this year, involving a total cost of RM77.3 million, said its Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said of the total, 90 projects are continuations from last year, one is a priority project for this year, while the remainder are special-approval slope repair projects.

“This year, the government has allocated RM260 million for the implementation of slope safety works in high-risk areas. The allocation will be distributed based on the critical needs of each location, particularly in areas identified as being frequently exposed to slope failure incidents.

“Natural disasters, such as heavy rainfall, are among the factors contributing to slope failures, which in turn affect the safety and smooth flow of the road network,” he told reporters after officiating the handover of a slope repair project along the Very High Frequency (VHF) Telapak Buruk route, here, today.

He said the ministry is committed to ensuring public access, mobility and safety through safe, comfortable and high-quality federal road networks and slopes, adding that road infrastructure development, including slope safety, remains a key focus of the ministry.

Meanwhile, Nanta said that the slope repair project along the VHF route, costing RM109 million, involves 124 locations under 36 Work Orders, and is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted operations at the Telapak Buruk transmission station, which is classified as a Priority 1 Critical Asset.

“The transmission station provides direct benefits to the public, particularly security agencies such as the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Chief Government Security Officer, as well as utility and telecommunications companies, to ensure zero-disruption levels for network and utility services in Negeri Sembilan and parts of Selangor, Melaka and Pahang,” he said.

He added that the project was implemented by the Public Works Department (JKR), through a long-term contractor, beginning on Nov 24, 2022, and was fully completed on Oct 14 last year, thereby providing safe, comfortable and world-class infrastructure.

“With the implementation of this contract, critical slope repair works can be carried out more quickly and effectively, compared with the conventional procurement process,” he said, adding that the ministry faced various challenges during project implementation, including weather conditions and site topography.

Earlier, he said that his ministry had approved RM19.5 million for periodic pavement works in the Southern Zone, covering Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor, while RM57.2 million was approved for periodic non-pavement works.

-- BERNAMA